Speaking to reporters in Hamilton, Carney pointed out that U.S. trade deals with other counties are going to involve very high tariffs, but he declined to say what, if any, tariff level would be acceptable for Canada as part of a deal.

The two countries are aiming for a 1 August deal even after Trump announced a new 35% tariff on imports from Canada last week.

Still, in a letter addressed to Carney last week, Trump advised that Canadian goods imported into the U.S. could face a blanket 35 percent tariff starting next month. A White House official, granted anonymity to discuss the negotiations, told POLITICO the administration plans to impose the tariff only on goods that do not comply with the USMCA.